Seven months after joining the MD program at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) – Chandigarh; a female PG contracted TB, lost 9 kg and was forced to go on a month long break to recover.

Not an isolated case, situation worse at emergencies

This case is not an isolated one as – unhealthy diets, long working hours and poor working conditions are taking a toll on the resident doctors of Chandigarh’s tertiary care institute.

Of the 1,300 resident doctors working at PGI 2 to 3% (around 40) are suffering or have suffered from TB recently. In the last two years, at least six resident doctors working at the Advanced Paediatrics Centre (APC) got infected with TB.

The TB situation is similar across other parts of the institute, but worse for those working in emergencies.

The situation is similar across other centers of the institute, but is worst for those working in various emergencies, which is visited by around 500 patients every day, many of whom might have active TB. As the TB bacteria can spread from droplets of sneeze or cough of a person with the active respiratory disease, those coming in contact with them are at high risk of infection.

In the medicine department, three senior residents and 5-6 junior residents are suffering from tuberculosis and are undergoing treatment at the moment. They are suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, spinal TB, cardiac TB, TB of knee, intestinal TB.

Letter to PGIMER Administration

The PGI admin were informed about the dire situation faced by resident doctors, lack of healthy food which plays a big role in building a strong immunity against such occupational hazards. The letter to the admin further brought to the superintendents notice the need to improve the quality of food.

With extended working hours of up to 36 hours, a high-stress work environment and dealing with patients carrying various infections, many of the doctors who have the infection were forced to take month long leave and undergo a six month treatment plan to recover. Some doctors are even forced to bring family members like their mothers back with them to help prepare better food for them as they study and treat patients.

Many doctors due to the rigorous working hours end up skipping meals, which in turn makes them weak and affects their immune system. Some doctors who ended up taking leave as long as 5 months have even had to skip their final exams, all because they were not provided healthy, hygenic and nutritous food. With the TB condition at PGI worsening, a simple step to provide good food would go a long way in curbing the spread of the infection.

Only if the doctors are healthy can they handle patients coming in with varying degrees of the infection. The institute authorities and governing body should understand this and help its doctors in acheiving this.

With inputs from : Hindusthan Times

Infographics by : Daily Rounds

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